Stripe Back!

OK, I admit, I love stripes. And I have so many pieces that I can keep wearing them and not repeat an outfit in … a couple of weeks, a month… ummm, whatever! I don’t want to know! Staying in the library, trying to get some work done:

What I loved this week:

Ugly Betty! I’d watched the first three seasons but not the fourth season, so this week I spend 2 days watching the final season’s episodes back to back. I knew it! They couldn’t resist performing a mini makeover on Betty regardless of all the talk about the inner beauty. And her clothes were not as loud or mismatched as the seasons 1-3.

Leopard print handbags. I know it was a big trend last fall but I couldn’t find my perfect bag then. I’m still looking! There is always something wrong with those I see: small spots, too large spots, gaudy colors, too big, too expensive… you know what I mean, don’t you?

Neutral make up. And by that I mean bronze and taupe and brown colors. Since I changed my hair color to medium brown I’ve been experimenting with brown and gold and bronze. I’m liking them more and more especially if I can add a little green or purple to it too!

Crochet Hoodie

This knit hooded cardigan with crochet trim is one of the most important pieces in my wardrobe. I keep reaching for it day and night regardless of the season. What better way to ward of the chill of the beach air on summer nights or the cool breeze of a crisp January morning? It is soft and light and oh-so-cozy.

Crochet Flowers

Layering a lacey top over a dress is a good thing, it creates a visual interest and a thin silver belt adds definition. I wore this top back to front and left the buttons open to create a nice collared effect. Recently I’ve become brave enough to try wearing stuff differently. I’ve also purchased a few items in larger sizes for a different fit and am very pleased with the result. Conclusion: clothes could be worn differently from what the retailer/designer intended!

Crochet tops

I received my tops. Great shipping BTW, I was expecting them by the end of the week. Good news is they are not that similar so I don’t have to take extreme measures. Phew, no messing with dyes!

Crochet trim

Let’s call this week’s theme Crochet and be done with it! This little top is by far too thin to be worn by itself on a chilly night. A delicate cardigan prevented much shivering!

Black bird

Before I crash from severe exhaustion, let me confess to my love for the crochet. So much so that I did the unthinkable and ordered two very similar (in style and in color) crochet tops from the same store! After that idiotic action caused by the lateness of the hour last night, I kept thinking up ways to make one different from the other. How about dyeing one a crazy color like forest green or purple?!

In the mean time let’s play with those crochet tops I already own:

Weekend Round Up:

I threw this on and was out of the door in a hurry mid-day Saturday only to come back home and find the latest issue of “In style” in my mail box with an article on styling a T-shirt dress. Their tips (and my commentary):

1. Choose a loose style, not body clinging. (Good thing I bought mine two size up!)
2. Avoid cinching the waist for an easy breezy feel. (I thought the lace neckline is enough embellishment and didn’t add a belt. Huh, lucky!)
3. Accessorize with layered necklaces and wedges. (OK, again; lace neckline= enough embellishment, wedges: well, missed out on this one!)

Going to my favorite restaurant, I was prepared for indulging in food and dessert. A long top to hide the tummy:

Enjoying a beautiful Sunday, a walk on the beach and discovering a new coffee shop with delicious coffee and scones:

What I loved this week:

Grosgrain ribbons, with their texture and versatility are the most useful and underappreciated of the accessories. Tie it as a headband, use it as a belt, tie it around your hat or make a little bow and wear it as a brooch…. The possibilities are endless!

Polka dots, either shorts or a dress… ok, even the perfect mini skirt… I’m not fussy, really; just looking for perfection!

Frozen fruit bars and ice pops. The best summer treats… cute and cool and happy, the best reminder of childhood summers. They are so easy to make, just pour so fruit juice in the molds and put in the freezer. 3 hours later and you got yourself a happy snack!

A Busy Friday

Think about it, my day actually started at 11:30 pm the night before when my frozen brain finally thawed enough to be able to write a few paragraph of my journal paper. Yeah, 11:30 pm to 1:00 am, great timing brain! Then our group meeting and reporting on our progress. Keeping with the nautical theme:

Tea with friends in the afternoon and dinner, going all sweet and girly, soft and summery:

Good Little Top

Some little tops play so nicely with everything else in one’s closet that you decide to ignore their little short comings, like the fact that they are made from dead dinosaurs (aka polyester).

It does help if you wear it to a nicely air conditioned mall!

Nautical

Good things about having one’s outfits matched and ready-to-wear beforehand:

-It actually inspires you to get ready and head out!

-It cuts preparation time in half.

-Everything work well together and there are no surprises.

-you are actually dressing around a theme or whatever inspires you currently.

-you get to wear your neglected items.

Back to work!

After a couple of weeks of playing, my nose is back to the grind stone (yeah, sure!). I’ve become obsessed with nautical theme. So you’re going to see a lot of navy and white and red combinations.

today's outfit:

Had to make an instant belt from a grosgrain ribbon and a red flower brooch!

Weekend Round Up:

I still have not found my prefect striped maxi skirt, so my striped maxi dress is doing double duty with a tank top layered over. Friday shopping and dinner:

I had friends over for the weekend which meant lots of window shopping and sight-seeing and fun. It was great spending time with my girlfriends…

Sunday was beautiful and balmy… clear skies, a picturesque lake and good friends… What more one wants from life? A delicious tea and gorgeous pastries perhaps…

Going patriotic on Monday (the 4^th) for brunch:

Watching fireworks in town center with all the other city residents:

What I loved this week:

Cat bookends. I’ve rearranged my books and now I need a couple of bookends. There are some stylish options available, some cute ones and some very pricey ones!

Crochet collars. My aunt crocheted a delicate and beautiful lace collar for me many years ago but I never used it. This week I found it at the bottom of one of my drawers and decided to start using it. Just how to wear it to look trendy and cute? Inspiration, inspiration?

Chocolate milkshakes, Yum! There is something very satisfying about drinking 400+ calories per cup. Maybe it is the whole time thinking how bad it is for you!

Orange appeal

What do you think of this baby? I’ve been looking for an orange pair of wedges and something was always wrong with them! Then I found this one which is extremely comfortable and has the softest leather straps ever. But the color is not as orange as I wanted.

So, should I keep it?

Simple life

Yeah, I know! My color scheme has become kind of limited: blue/navy and neutral. It is all part of the process of simplifying the life!

Ahoy Sailor!

I’m pretty busy which means less complicated outfits. I love the color navy but I’ve been neglecting buying items in this color for a couple of years. No worries, I get to it soon!

Shop love

One of those days that I keep saying “Thank you Shopping Gods! Thank you!”.

First I find the most perfect party dress and crochet top ever.

Then I finally finally meet the Denim dress of my dreams. Light, simple and uncomplicated. Oh love, I’ve been searching for you all over! (And it was so discounted that it was practically free!) World, meet my new Anthropologie's Rise and Shine dress:

The midsummer night’s dream

Trying to put together my most “Queen of fairies” outfit but still not satisfied. An emerald green silk maxi wasn’t very fairylike in retrospect. May be for next year I have to stack up on white and cream chiffon dresses!

Red Hot

Hooray! Our temp has gone over 75 degree. Bring on the dresses, miniskirts and shorts. Oh summer, I welcome you!

Weekend round up:

For a lunch with friends, nothing beats a girly-sweet mixture. Add in my neon orange nail polish, orange flower on my bag and bright pink bracelet, and I was feeling fierce!

Our Neighborhood coffee shop has remodeled recently, putting in lots of black leather couches and cushy armchairs with burgundy pillows and burgundy leather covered side tables. After a few hours of playing in the park, having a cup of hot chocolate and sinking into those cool comfortable chairs was the best thing ever:

Since I still haven’t found the striped maxi skirt of my dreams, I had to compromise. Using my striped maxi dress as my base, I layered a black top and black cardigan and pronto! It’s alive!

What I loved this week:

My new nail polish from Sinful Colors Professional Nail Enamel in “Big Daddy”. It is a bright orange and I feel so bold wearing it!

Shorts. Well in my opinion the best length is 3 inches inseam, not too short but not Bermuda-like either. My favorites are the utility styles in a soft chambray fabric. Now only if the weather would cooperate!

Blueberry tarts. Hmmm, so good! They don’t count as pastry since they are so full of berries. They go into the fruit and vegetable category in my book. So I can eat as much as I like without the guilt!

Crocheting

I used to know how to crochet a little, enough to make scarves and hats for my dolls, or a little uncomplicated pencil pouch. These days though, I just enjoy wearing someone else’s artwork. So much easier!

June gloom

To fight it: take one Ikat print maxi dress, add a thin crochet sweater, a hot pink bag and cork wedges and you are summer personified. At least until it becomes so gray and foggy that you can’t see 20 steps ahead of you!